Last-minute decision gives Amanda shot at cover fame

Jessica Sherwood from Auckland, Amanda Taylor, Napier, and Shelly Nicholson, Hamilton, will go on to the national final of the Maxim Swimwear Model of the Year competition. Photo / Graham Palmer

Napier's Amanda Taylor is in the running to become a magazine cover star.

Maxim's Swimwear Model of the Year competition, once won by former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins is in New Zealand for the first time this year with an initial heat in Hawke's Bay on Saturday.

For Ms Taylor it was a last-minute entry after the weather took a turn for the worst and she cancelled plans to attend music festival Homegrown in Wellington.

"All my friends said 'just do it', I'm not very confident with that stuff but I had a big support group who came along and cheered me on and that really helped," she said.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm glad I did it and I'm just going to give it my all and see how far I can go."

By day she is the multi-tasking manager of Cafe DMP in Napier - getting up at 5am a few times a week to do the baking.

The Dutch at Napier's Bluewater Hotel hosted the bikini event which drew hopefuls from across the North Island.

Entrants had to be over 18 with no restrictions on marital status, they were, however, encouraged to be confident and dress with elegance in mind.

Each competitor took the stage twice, once in a swimwear segment and again in an after 5pm section where they wore cocktail-style dresses.

"It was brilliant; everything went really well, we ended up with eight girls - they really enjoyed it and the crowd really enjoyed it," organiser Jess Ratana said.

"It was interesting to see the vast selection of girls, there was a wide range from blondes to a bright red head."

Three top contestants Shelly Nicholson from Hamilton, Jessica Sherwood from Auckland and Ms Taylor, will go on to a national final also expected to be in Hawke's Bay.

The overall winner will win a trip to Australia's Gold Coast in May to compete against Australia's best entrants.

The prize includes flights and the New Zealand winner will be put up in Beachcomber Resort for a week, with a chance to win the competition gaining a cover girl slot and picture spread in Maxim plus a cash prize.

Last year's Maxim Swimwear Model of the Year winner Laura Brunskill scooped the sash from a group of 27 finalists.